Informed Consent

Title of Study: The Nearness: Spiritual Formation for Parents and Caregivers

Principal Investigator: Alec Gewirtz

Contact Information: alec@nearness.coop, 203-505-4848

Institution: The Nearness, LCA

Purpose of the Study

Alongside the program “Rooted in Values," you are invited to participate in an optional research study exploring how small-group programs can impact parents and caregivers in transmitting their values and spirituality to their children. The research seeks to understand the experiences of spiritual-but-not-religious (SBNR) parents in such programs and to evaluate their outcomes.

Procedures

If you agree to participate, you will be asked to 

  • Fill out a survey at the beginning of the program and another toward the end.
  • Optionally, you may be invited to participate in an optional 30-minute interview to share your experiences and perspectives on the program. Interviews will be audio-recorded and transcribed for analysis.

Voluntary Participation

You may refuse to participate in the research study, skip questions you are uncomfortable answering, or withdraw from the study at any time without penalty or loss of benefits related to your participation in the program.  Your total time in this study is not expected to exceed more than 60 minutes.

Risks

There are minimal risks associated with this study. You may feel some discomfort when reflecting on personal experiences or discussing spiritual topics. You are free to decline any questions.

Benefits

Participating in this study may provide you with insights into your spiritual identity and practices. Your participation also contributes to research on how to better support parents in transmitting values and spirituality to their children.

Confidentiality

Your privacy will be protected throughout the study. Any identifying information will be removed from research data. Results will be reported in aggregate, and no identifying details will be included in publications or presentations. All digital data will be securely stored on password-protected systems, and only authorized researchers will have access to it.

Compensation

There is no monetary compensation for participating in this study. However, your involvement contributes to valuable research on spiritual parenting.

Questions

If you have any questions about the study, please contact Alec Gewirtz at alec@nearness.coop or at 203-505-4848. For concerns about your rights as a research participant, you may contact Solutions IRB at (855) 226-4472 or participants@solutionsirb.com.

Consent

By typing your name below, you acknowledge that you have read and understood the informed consent form, and you agree to participate in the study. A copy of the informed consent form may be found at this link. In the informed consent form, the program is referred to as “The Nearness Spiritual Formation for Parents and Caregivers Journey.” That is the same as the “Rooted in Values” program in which you’re participating.

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